Whistling toy



Oct. 18, 1949.

T. R. DUNCAN WHISTLING TOY I Filed Feb. l8, 1946 N UNBN INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18,1949

UNITED STATES rem OFFICE 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in childrens playthings, particularly a whistling toy, and one of the chief objects of the invention is to provide a new, amusing and harmless toy which can be manufactured at a low cost.

Another object is to provide an improved toy wherein the parts possess a new mode of assembling and operation.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a toy wherein new and different whistling effects are both humanly and mechanically produced.

' A still further object is to provide in a toy of the nature set forth one which can be used also as a bathtub toy wherein water can be sucked in and blown out again similar to a Water pistol.

With the foregoing in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequent- 1y appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and peculiar arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated by way of example in the drawing in which;

Fig. 1 is a part sectional and side elevation.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the right hand end of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrowed line 22 in Fig. 1; on asomewhat larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, therein is shown a tubular member 8 constructed of any suitable material either transparent or otherwise, having its ends closed by a pair of members 9 and If) each of which has a central opening I l. Housed within the tubular member 8 is a globular body 52 contoured to the inner periphery of the member 8 and adapted to roll or slide therein when the tube is canted, or be reciprocated in said tubular body when the latter is moved back and forth in a line parallel to its longitudinal axis, the object being to mechanically drive out air through one of the central openings while simultaneously entrainin air into the tube through the other of said openings in the mechanical production of different whistling effects or musical sounds.

At least one of the apertured members 9 or consists of a whistle which is composed of a pair of concave disks l3 and I4 having in their juxtaposed relation their convex faces directed outwardly.

Disk I3 is provided with an annular peripheral flange l which projects in a direction so as to surround or envelop the concave face thereof; and disk I l is provided with an annular flange similar to the flange I5 but which projects in a direction so as to envelop or surround the convex face thereof, said flange 18 being rebent outwardly over itself to provide a second annular flange 11'. Between Said flanges l6 and I1 results an annular space within which is housed both the flange l5 of the disk It and the end of the tubular body 8, such parts being secured in their assembled relation by a crimping operation applied to the outmost flange l1.

When the flanges I 5 and is are brought into juxtaposition or the flange I6 is telescoped into the flange I5, these flanges will be held temporarily in the desired relationship until the end of the tubular member 8 is in turn slipped over the flange l5 inst-ant to the crimping operation that crimps flange ll securely to the tubular member thereby retaining the assembled parts in their operative position.

The crimping operation confines the body l2 within the tubular member 8, secures the inner and outer disks in a permanent predetermined relationship and strengthens the tube and protects it from wear or damage.

When the tubular member 8 is constructed of a transparent material and the body or marble I2 is colored, the toy is especially suited for infants as the motion of the marble would be visible, and by canting the tube would produce an entertaining sound. The toy is also suitable as a bathtub plaything since water can be sucked in and blown out again in the manner in which a water pistol operates. Owing to the imperforate spherical body 12 having a close, but free working fit within the tubular, whistle-carrying, member 8 with which it is combined, it acts effectively as a piston to cause the air to produce whistling sounds, and at the same time a durable device results wherein danger of the piston becoming stuck is reduced to the minimum.

In the operation of the device as a whistle, air is drawn in through the aperture at one end and forced out through the aperture in the other end. When the tubular member is briskly shaken a loud whistling effect results. If Whistles of different pitch are used (the one sounding a third or fifth higher than the other) an entertaining sound or chord results, as the Whistles sound together. If the finger is intermittently placed over the aperture of either Whistle while shaking the tube, a series of staccato notes like a melody can be produced. If the tube is slowly canted a variety of low, cooing or whistling sounds result. Thus the body I2 operates as a piston member under the influence of gravity when canted in the tubular member as aforesaid. When the body l2 acts as a piston member the same can be constructed as an ordinary piston.

What is claimed is:

1. In a whistling toy having a tubular body and walls fixed to and closing the ends of said body, said end walls being provided with apertures adapted to produce a whistling sound when air is forced therethrough, an imperforate spherical member fitted to roll axially within said tube so as to force air through the respective end apertures under pressure suitable to effect a whistling sound. 1

2. A whistling toy as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said end walls comprises an inwardly bowed disk provided with a peripheral flange fitted against the interior of and directed outwardly of the body, a second outwardly bowed disk mounted adjacent said first disk and having a peripheral flange fitted telescopically within the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 553,958 Freeman Feb. 4 ,1896 660,684 Holder Oct. 30, 1900 1,039,814 Sacavem Oct. 1, 1912 1,325,434 Carey et a1 Dec. 16, 1919 

